According to news reports, the Treasury Department is considering a new rule that would require beverage companies to add informative labels to alcoholic drinks. All alcoholic drinks. The labels would have to show information regarding alcoholic content as percent of volume and, most importantly, a "serving facts" panel, which would list, much like other foods and beverages do, the number of calories, carbohydrates, fat and protein for a standard serving size.Already on Friday last week, I hailed PepsiCo Inc.'s (NYSE: PEP) decision to change the label on its Aquafina bottled water to say "Public Water Source," meaning, basically, tap water. I thought this was a first, small step into explaining the futility of this needless industry called bottled water.
Now this makes me just as happy, if not more. You see, I most certainly like to consume alcoholic beverages on occasion, but as conscious as I've always been about nutritional and calorie intake from soft drinks and juices, I never have an accurate measure when it comes to alcohol -- how many calories a pint has, a glass of wine or an ounce of vodka? Sure, there are sources that tell you approximately, but I'm certain these vary from one manufacturer to another. And why should alcoholic beverages be any different from the rest of the food and beverages we consume? Why shouldn't these companies have to report nutritional content for the consumer?
In my post: Don't forget to count drink calories when dieting, I finished by saying, "Alas, this goes for beer and martinis as well..." Then, not too long ago, AOL ran a feature detailing the Highest Calorie Cocktails. One of my faves, the margarita, held the second place with 740 calories!!! Naturally, a cocktail won't come with a label, but awareness is the first step, right?
By the way, it seems that industry execs actually support this step as well, as they felt consumers' demand for it, but the process could still take three years. Until then, and while I'm still blissfully ignorant of how many alcoholic calories I consume, I think I could use a martini. Cheers.
Once again, OPEC has killed the goose that lays the golden egg
Closing Bell: Markets bounce after yesterday's sell-off; BA, F, GE, DOW all up, GS down 
Where have all the consumers gone?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-31-2007 @ 5:32PM
Brad Kirkland said...
This is a stupid idea.If you are going to consume alcohol,obviously you are not that concerned with the caloric intake.Next you will want vitamin added Martinis?get serious,this is dumb and you know it.Next time you are at dinner or a wedding and somone proposes a toast,please STOP the proceedings until all members of "the drinking team" know exactly how many calories they are about to ingest.Where does this BS end?
7-31-2007 @ 6:29PM
Bob Skilnik said...
You don't have to wait 3 years for nutrtionl beer info.
http://beerinfood.wordpress.com/booze-nutritional-info/
Wine and booze info will soon follow.
7-31-2007 @ 8:03PM
Bob said...
Why wait 3 years?
http://beerinfood.wordpress.com/booze-nutritional-info/
8-01-2007 @ 10:46AM
Jeff said...
I agree with Brad... Since the majority of I what I drink and eat isn't healthy, I would prefer to not be bothered with nutritional information. It always made me mad when at weddings, some random member of "the drinking team" would interrupt the wedding to read the nutritional facts of the cake and soda. Eat and drink to the end!
8-01-2007 @ 10:51AM
mark said...
The alcohol companies should also label what else is in the beer and such to let the public know, what addicting formula that is in the alcoholic beverages, in my opinion the alcohol companies should do away completely any alcohol that way nobody drinks themselves to death or kill another innocent person drunk driving, there is a chemical in alcohol that addicts people to it just like cigarettes, in my opinion, its like the people who work for theses places don't care bout human life they just work their but in fact nobody wants to let people know what is in the alcohol and tobacco, Why? Is their something the people who work for theses places hiding?
8-01-2007 @ 4:32PM
Bob Skilnik said...
Mark's response is a big problem as to why the labeling situation is taking so much time. First it was nutritional info, a historic battle that has been going on since Repeal; now the TTB has to entertain requests for a listing of allegens, ingredients, and misplaced statments that "there is a chemical in alcohol that addicts people to it just like cigarettes." This all has to be placed on a label in a minimum font size. If the TTB followed everybodys' requests, they'd have to bottle everything in gallon containers just to find room for the labels.
OK. Alcohol can be addictive, but you're comparing apples with oranges. When it comes to alcoholic drinks, even the brewers/vintners/distillers recommend moderation, not some sort of nanny-state footprint. Personal responsibility, moderation---not deprivation!